In reading Genesis 47 I can’t help but think about the power that Pharaoh had. The famine continued and got so severe that the people sold their livestock to Joseph to gain food. When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord the fact that since our money is gone and our livestock belongs to you, there is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land. Why should we perish before your eyes – we and our land as well? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we with our land will be in bondage to Pharaoh. Give us seed so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate.” So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. v. 18-20. Joseph set up a system. They received seed to plant and a fifth of the crop would be given to Pharaoh. “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.” v. 25.

In my devotional Hearing God Through the Year by Dallas Willard, was this: Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” Mark 9:35-37.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Hebrews 1:1-4.

The Creator and sustainer of the universe; of us, of everything we see, hear, feel, and those things we cannot see, hear, feel…He sat down and placed a little child gently in his arms and told us whoever welcomes one of these welcomes Him…and not Him…but the One who sent Him. Can you imagine Pharaoh doing that?

The Pharaoh had tremendous power. Kings and Presidents have power. They can’t stop a famine. They can’t sustain the Universe and all of us. Neither can we. I’m learning to trust God. For all things. Pharaoh had power while he was alive and ruling but his time on this Earth ended. The Earth continued to revolve and life went on just as it does for us today. Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:14-18.

Powers that be? The Creator who sustains all things by his powerful word gently held a small child so He could teach us how to love and be like Him. Try to picture Pharaoh with all his power. Try to picture Jesus holding a small child and teaching. Who would you rather follow?